The 2013-2014 Toronto Raptors thread: A 'Drake' New World

[hockeyfan1]

Tough triple-overtime loss  for the Raptors last night, 134-120 to the Washington Wizards.

Give Kyle Lowry credit.  He played 54 minutes with a sprained ankle, including overtime.  But, Injuries didn't help the Raptors as they ran into foul trouble, in what was billed as the longest game played in the history of this franchise.

Oh well, you lose some, you win some.  In the words of Raptors' DeMar DeRozan:

"We just ran out of time," said guard DeMar DeRozan. "All we needed is one stop, one rebound, one bucket. We just couldn't get it. They scored when they needed to, we scored when we needed to but we didn't get a stop when we needed it."

Better luck next time, DeMar.

Full story:
http://www.tsn.ca/nba/story/?id=444846

 

[GhostofPotvin29]

Blah, ignore.  Wrong thread.  Go raps.

 

[Kin]

Well, the Raps clinched a playoff spot tonight with a tight win over the lowly Celts. Likeable team, hard workers, well coached...just sayin'.

 

[L K]

Well, the Raps clinched a playoff spot tonight with a tight win over the lowly Celts. Likeable team, hard workers, well coached...just sayin'.

Yep.  Definitely taking some of the sting away from the Leafs.  I'm looking forward to their playoff series.  Both the Nets and Wizards could be interesting 1st round matchups.

 

[hockeyfan1]

Well, the Raps clinched a playoff spot tonight with a tight win over the lowly Celts. Likeable team, hard workers, well coached...just sayin'.

Yep.  Definitely taking some of the sting away from the Leafs.  I'm looking forward to their playoff series.  Both the Nets and Wizards could be interesting 1st round
matchups.

Good for the Raptors as their diligent work paid off,  so to speak.  A definite positive for coach Casey and GM Ujiri. 

Am too looking forward to some T.0. basketball playoff action.

GO RAPTORS GO!!!

 

[Scot4bz]

Their efforts should be better recognized - I'd like to see the city get behind them. Happy for the guys that have been here through the lean years. Well done!

 

[GhostofPotvin29]

Not only Jose Reyes goes down, but Kyle Lowry left the Raptors game with an injury.  Cathal Kelly says Lowry had to be driven to the team bus and was noticeably limping getting on it.

 

[hockeyfan1]

107-103 win over the Houston Rockets tonight.  Even without the injured Kyle Lowry and Amir Johnson, the Raptors were led by DeMar DeRozan's 29 points, as well as Jose Valenciunas & Greivis Vasquez's 15 points.  Terrence Ross also supplied 14 points of his own.

This was the last time for the season that the Raptors face a team from the Western Conference.  Vying for home court advantage for the upcoming playoffs speaking of which the Raptors have already clinched, they will be playing the lowly Bucks & 76ers twice before season's end with 7 games remaining. 

Way to go, Raptors!

Source:  TSN

 

[hockeyfan1]

102-98 win over the hapless Milwaukee Bucks last night.  The Raptors led by DeRozan's 23 points and Vasquez's 26 points,  tied a franchise record for number of road wins, as the Raptors are currently seeded third in the Easterh conference along with the Chicago Bulls who sport an identical record.  Both teams have five games remaining.

Source:  Sportsnet

 

[L K]

The Raptors remain tied for 3rd with the Bulls.

At 45-32 they have already guaranteed their 3rd best season in franchise history.

The combined record of their 5 remaining opponents (Knicks x2, Philly, Milwaukee, Detroit): 92-217
The franchise record is 47 wins.  Very good chance that they surpass it this year.

 

[mc]

The overhaul by Tim Liewiki (sp?) has done wonders for this team.

 

[L K]

The overhaul by Tim Liewiki (sp?) has done wonders for this team.

Aside from Drake coming into the fold as an unpaid ambassador (recruiter), I don't think he has done anything. This is all Masai Ujiri and Dwayne Casey.

 

[mc]

Didn't he bring in Massai?

 

[Deebo]

Valanciunas charged with DUI per CTV.

 

[mc]

Valanciunas charged with DUI per CTV.

Ouch.

 

[hockeyfan1]

Valenciunas apologetic, forgiven...

http://www.sportsnet.ca/basketball/nba/ujiri-valanciunas-will-play-wednesday-after-dui/

 

[Kin]

Raps win, Nets lose. Up three in the division now with only four to play.

 

[L K]

Raps win, Nets lose. Up three in the division now with only four to play.

Pesky Chicago keeping pace...

 

[Kin]

Raps win, Nets lose. Up three in the division now with only four to play.

Pesky Chicago keeping pace...

Yeah, but you know for all the talk of how bad the East is and how you probably don't want Chicago or Brooklyn in a 7 game series I don't think there's an easy matchup out there. Charlotte looks good, Washington looks fiesty...it'll be a tough first round.

 

[L K]

Raps win, Nets lose. Up three in the division now with only four to play.

Pesky Chicago keeping pace...

Yeah, but you know for all the talk of how bad the East is and how you probably don't want Chicago or Brooklyn in a 7 game series I don't think there's an easy matchup out there. Charlotte looks good, Washington looks fiesty...it'll be a tough first round.

Since December 31st:

4. Chicago         34-14
5. Brooklyn 33-14
3. Toronto         32-17
2. Miami         29-18
1. Indiana         29-20
6. Charlotte 26-20
7. Washington    26-24
9. New York 24-24
8. Atlanta         17-29